Through a combination of forest management, replanting and other sustainable practices, the total forested acreage in Florida is rising.

Written by

Ekow Essabra-Mensah
Democrat Writer

Florida's forestry authorities are confident of the state's program to expand the amount of forested acres and ensure those lands can support the natural environment and the needs of the construction industry.

About 120,000 acres of trees are replanted annually to maintain the timber resource and promote the forest cover in the state, said Jarek Nowak, forest utilization specialist at the Florida Forest Service.

This work helps offset the harvesting of trees in a way that is compatible with protecting wildlife, plants, soil and water quality, according to the Forest Service.The ...